Sorry for making you all wait. I was, uh, too caught up with school and all. xP
Again, I'm not too proud of this chapter…I'm bad with first person POV, and then there's just a huge argument in the middle. And more science stuff (Thanks to Wikipedia). But things'll start to get going again starting with the next chapter, so you have that to look forward to.
Takes place next day.

"You want to frame this and put it on the wall? But don't you usually…?" She held the match closer to the corner.

"Mother! No, I want to frame it!" I yanked the paper away from the offending fire.

"Okay, okay!" She tossed the match into the sink before promptly plucking the drawing from my hands and staring at it.

"Mother–!"

"Hey, Deidara, this isn't your drawing, is it?" She looked at me skeptically. "It's not your…style, shall we say."

"It is my drawing it's just…I got help…"

A grin crossed her lips.

Oh no. I knew that look. That stupid look that was always followed by the same stupid question of–

"Is it your 'special friend's?' Did you finally find someone? Aww, so who is it? Is it a cute one? Or someone who can protect you against all the mean, nasty–!"

"Mom, he's not–!"

"Oh, it's a he…?" She drawled before shooting me that sly grin. "Is he cute? He must be talented to do this!"

"He's not cute, he's pret–!" I cut off my sentence at seeing her face smug up. Wait. I didn't…no way, I didn't…!

"He's pretty? Aww, I didn't know those were the ones you went for, dear!"

Holy shit, I did. I let my hand harshly meet my forehead.

"So? Who is he? What's his name? What's he like?"

Oh, Mom, he's just the guy that beat the shit out of me in the beginning of the year. Wait–No, I'm not talking about Sasori-san! I mean, Sasori-san is pretty – I did not just admit that – and all, but… "He's no one, un!"

"Tell me, dear, or I'll go to your school and ask all the 'pretty' guys if they drew a picture for you!"

"Mother, you can't do that!"

"Watch me."

I could've sworn I blanched. When Mom got like that…there was no doubt that she would do what she said. And the thought of her doing that…and then coming upon Sasori-san…

"Oh, you! Are you the one who drew a picture for my son, Deidara?"

"Sort of…we kind of swapped in art. Why?"

"Because he likes you! You're his special person! You know, he even thinks you're pretty!"

No! That would be the worst scenario ever!

"Well?"

I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. "Mom, he's just a friend…no one special."

She sighed. "Fine, fine already. But you know, Deidara, you should find someone already…it's been, what, a month!"

"Enough with that! I'll find someone when I'm ready!" I flipped around and began storming up to my room. "So, can you please frame that picture? And if I find that you burned it, I'll…nngh, Goddammit!"

When he was out of sight and hearing, the woman smirked to herself.

"He's found someone special."

«––––––

"So, yeah…if something's bothering you, you should just try and talk about it, or even attempt it."

"Really…so what if…this thing is bothering you…but you can't perform it? Like…something you've always wanted to do…"

"Like a job?"

"No, like an action."

"Like…juggling? Practice, I guess. Get up and do it?"

"'Get up and do it?'" Sasori echoed, blinking. "So you're saying that if I want to do something…I should just do it?"

"I guess, un." Deidara shrugged.

"Mm…" Sasori's eyes narrowed in thought before he abruptly stood up and strode over to the other end of the table, Deidara watching in confusion.

"Sasori?" Pain looked as the redhead approached. "Is something wro–?"

"Yes." And he slapped Pain across the face.

He then promptly turned around and went back to his seat, turning his attention to Deidara curiously. "Like that?"

Deidara gaped at the other, trying to get what had just happened through his head. "…You…what you wanted was to slap Pain-san, un?"

"Well, yeah…" Sasori cocked his head. "He's always scolding me for crap and all, 'No, Sasori, you cannot go and shove a fork into Hidan's head just because he got squirrel blood on your uniform.' I'm tired of having to wash this damn shirt and all just because of stupid Hidan's 'rituals.' Plus, stupid Pain's always a jackass, acting like he's God…and I've always wanted to get him back for hitting me when you joined. Damn stuck up prick…"

"Sasori…I don't think that's what Deidara-kun meant when he said 'get up and do it…'" Itachi glanced at their leader.

"Dude, redhead, seriously, what the fuck were you thinking?" Hidan made a disgusted face at him. "You're dead, seriously."

"Heh, Pain couldn't do a thing to me," Sasori growled, pressing his fist into his cheek as he propped his arm up.

"Sasori…"

"Sasori, I think you better explain what happened…"

"Would you mind coming over here for a second?"

"So you can slap me again? No thanks, Pain."

"Actually, I had punching your face in until it was unrecognizable down. Does that fit your needs?"

"I think I can go without."

"I don't."

"Mm, and 'I don't' care."

"Sasori!"

"Sasori, that's enough."

"Shut it, Itachi! He started it, anyways!"

"You did, actually, because you just went over and hit him…"

"That's Deidara's fault. He's the one who told me to."

"Sasori-san, you came up to me and asked 'What do you do when you want to do something but can't?' I just answered your question. I didn't know what you wanted to do was slap Pain-san!"

"Not slap, like some stupid girl…more like…smash…"

"Smash Pain-san, un."

"Exactly."

"Then why did you slap him then? Seriously, you say you wanted to smash him, but then you slap him! Geez, redhead, they're not the same thing!"

"I know that, dipshit!"

"Sasori! Get your ass over here! That's an order!"

"Alright, this has gone on long enough…" Konan growled. "Pain, Deidara-kun answered Sasori's question of 'what do you do when you want to do something, but you can't?' or something like it, and he somehow got the wrong idea. It wasn't the smartest thing to slap you, but if that's what he wanted to do, then fine; he wanted to hit you. So shut up and move on."

"So it's Deidara's fault."

Sasori bristled. "No, it's your fault!"

"You just said it was my fault!"

"Do you want it to be your fault?!"

"Who cares whose Goddamn fault it is?! Redhead, you still rebelled against fucking leader, so it's your fault!"

"You just contradicted yourself! Idiot bastard!"

"Hey, hey, hey! No need for the insults, Deidara-chan!"

"Stop calling me 'Deidara-chan!'"

"H-Hey, come on you guys…this isn't helping the problem…"

"What problem? The fact that Sasori slapped me or that Deidara is currently trying to strangle Hidan?!"

"Seriously, how the fuck did he hear that all the way down at the other end of the table?"

"Because I'm not deaf like you!"

"Oh, right, everyone just gang up on me! It's 'Gang-up-on-Hidan Day,' everyone! He'll take any of your damn insults and–!"

"Hidan, shut up."

"Goddammit, Kakuzu, not you too!"

"Enough!" Konan snapped, slamming her hands down on the table as she shot up, shooting a dirty glare at the boys surrounding her. She whipped a finger at Hidan. "You. Shut the hell up." She moved her accusing digit to Deidara. "You. Sit back in your seat and control your 'Hidan-killing' reflexes." The next target was Sasori. "You. Apologize to Pain so he'll shut up and stop bugging the crap out of me and next time use your brain." And then she turned to Pain, a murderous aura surrounding her. "And you. Get over the fact that you got slapped and move on without trying to get Sasori back." With one last glare, she sat back down in her seat.

"How come you tell me to shut the hell up?! Why don't you tell Kakuzu?!"

"Because you need to shut up, un!"

"You need to shut up too, blondie."

"You shut up, Kakuzu! Why don't you shut up and stop telling Deidara to?"

"Shut up, Akasuna."

"Kakuzu, don't provoke him anymore."

"You all just shut up!"

"Shut up, Konan!"

"Don't tell Konan to shut up!"

"Fine then! You shut up, oh great Leader-sama!"

"Shut your big, fat, annoying mouth already, dammit!"

"You shut yours first!"

"Deidara! Stop trying to attack Hidan this instant!"

"Pain, I swear, I'm going to beat the living hell out of you if you try and order Deidara around one more time!"

"What, you're going to slap me again like some pansy girl?"

"Oh, that's it! Get over here!"

"Sasori, calm down."

"Shut up, Itachi! I'll kill him for calling me a girl!"

"You call me 'Deidara-chan' one more time–!"

"De-i-da-ra-chan!"

"Are you flirting with him?!"

"Hidan, you better not be trying to cheat on me. At least find someone better than the idiot blond."

"What was that, un?!"

"Or should I say, 'Sasori's pet?'"

"Kakuzu, I told you…stop provoking him."

"H-Hey, uh, guys? Itachi-san is getting angry…"

"Yeah? Well I'm plenty angry already!"

"Konan, calm down!"

"What the hell is going on in here?"

All heads turned to see Tsunade standing at the entryway, her face beyond displeased. "I hear all this arguing all the way in my office."

"It's my stupid brother and his group," Sasuke growled, glowering at Itachi.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about Itachi-kun without all the steroid outbursts?"

"Tch." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I don't need to yell all the time to get past Itachi's thick head."

"Foolish little brother…you lack hatred…"

"I hate you so damn much, you got that?! All your 'Sasuke! You lack hatred!' speeches piss me off!"

"Alright! Stop before we get the steroid rant…" Tsunade rubbed her forehead instinctively. "So what happened?"

"Sasori slapped me."

"You slapped me as well, Pain!"

"That was a long time ago."

The blonde sighed. "Okay, you two…break it up. Sasori-kun, apologize."

"…Sorry, Pain."

"Are you going to be okay now?"

"…Yes."

"Good." Tsunade yawned before turning around and sauntering back to where she came. "If I hear you arguing again, you'll be in trouble. All of you."

"Yes, Principal Tsunade."

Sasori had a pissed look on his face.

"Sasori-san…?"

"I'm going to murder him."

"Sasori."

"What."

"You just had to apologize. Calm down."

"Tch."

"Sasori-san…are we still…?"

Sasori blinked, turning from the Uchiha to Deidara. "Yeah, sure."

––––––»

"How come you brought dango for yourself and not me?"

"You didn't ask."

Deidara scoffed, marching over to his seat and plopping himself down in it. "Why are we in the cafeteria?"

"Because people are doing homework in the other rooms," Sasori answered as he strode over and sat down next to the blond. "Are you finished with your questions?"

"Yes."

"Mm. So, you're learning about the digestive system?"

"Like everyone?"

"Don't get smart with me."

"Yes, we're learning about the digestive system."

"So what do you need help with?"

"…"

"…All of it? From the beginning?"

Deidara turned away. "Un…"

"Didn't Morino tell you about it?"

"Not in detail…he just said, 'Food goes down the esophagus, into the stomach and out the body. For the test, you will need to know the whole process.'"

Sasori's face scrunched up in confusion. "What? That's it?"

"He didn't say it in your class?" Deidara asked, looking back to the shorter boy.

"I don't usually pay attention. He goes over stuff I already know, so…"

"Un…could've guessed that…"

"Yeah, yeah. So are you ready?"

Deidara nodded.

"You're not going to get too confused by the scientific terms?"

"Maybe. I know, like…some things…"

Sasori sighed. "So I need to explain it to you from the beginning."

"Well, when he was asked to go into detail about the stupid thing, Morino-sensei just replied, 'Shut up and figure out how it works yourself!'"

"I see…" Sasori took the dango out of his mouth for a second, tilting his head. "You want me to stop every once and a while to make sure you get it?"

A blush slowly made its way onto Deidara's cheeks. "U-Un, that'd be nice…"

"So, then…do you know what the esophagus is?"

"It's the tube in your neck that food goes down."

"Right. Do you still want me to start from that?"

"S-Sure…"

"Are you going to pay attention?"

"Yes, duh!"

"Alright, calm down…"

"…I know there are two different tubes in your neck…"

"Okay, right, so, the esophagus is the tube within your neck that food goes down, while the trachea is the other tube, which leads to the lungs. There's a flap that prevents food from going down your trachea that's called the epiglottis, but that's for another time. Back to the esophagus, there's nothing it does other than lead broken down food down to the stomach. The stomach, you probably think is just one big organ. That's…partially correct. The stomach itself is just one organ, but it has been divided into four different sections, as each one does different jobs. Do you follow?" Sasori tilted his head, halting his mini-lesson until the blue-eyed boy nodded. "The first section is called the cardia. There are many other names to the cardia, such as esophagogastric junction or gastroesophageal junction, but cardia is easier to remember, so we'll go with that. Anyways, the cardia is the area where the stomach and the esophagus meet. Morino doesn't really ask for much about the cardia, so let's move on. The second part is the fundus, and it…"

Deidara barely heard anything as he gazed into the redhead's ash-rose eyes, mesmerized by the color. His eyes are…really pretty…

"…also can hold food that your body hasn't digested for about…"

Small red roses blossomed on the blond's cheeks as Sasori cocked his head once more as he explained, placing a finger to his lips as he paused to think for a few moments before starting again. He's so…cute…almost…

"…The body of the stomach is just that. The body. Now, the final part is the pylorus, and it…"

I never noticed it before, but… "You're really hot…un…"

"Wh-What?" Sasori's eyes widened, a faint blush appearing on his features.

Deidara stiffened, his face reddening like a scarlet cape was draped over it. Shit! I didn't say that out loud…tell me I didn't say that out loud! "Uh, I-I mean…the, uh, pierolis, it's, um, interesting?"

"It's, um, the…pylorus, Deidara…" Sasori averted his gaze, his blush darkening a little.

"O-Oh. Yeah, I remember…it, uh, connects with the small intestine, right?"

"…Right. It connects with the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. The small intestine is divided into three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. Most of the chemical digestion of food takes place in the duodenum. The jejunum absorbs the nutrients from that food then, which is then sent to the ileum, which absorbs vitamin B12, or a group of cobalt and corrin ring molecules, bile salts and whatever else the jejunum failed to absorb. D-Do you understand?"

"Un, Sasori no danna, I–!" Deidara cut himself off, and after realizing what he had just said, face reddening.

Sasori stared, eyes wide, the dango slipping from his mouth.

"S-Sasori-san…! I-I didn't mean–! I mean, it just slipped out and–!" Deidara stammered, trying to defend himself.

"Ah…" Sasori opened his mouth, trying to form words, his face heating up to match the other's. "I…i-in what way…did you mean that?"

"I…I meant to call you 'sensei'…so I meant it…" Deidara shifted uncomfortably.

Sasori raised a hand to cover his mouth, biting his bottom lip. "D-Deidara…they're not…"

"I-I know that!" Deidara prevented from asking why Sasori was covering his mouth if he wasn't laughing.

The ash-rose-eyed male inhaled deeply, trying to drain the redness off his cheeks. "…I-If you can…control what you say…we can continue…"

Deidara nodded, swallowing. "I'm sorry…you must be feeling pretty awkward, un?"

The narrowed eyes and fidgeting answered his question.

"Un, so…maybe I should teach you about math, now?"

When Sasori nodded, Deidara nodded back. And then, the memories of what happened that one day after school flooded back to him. Deidara desperately tried to concentrate on teaching the other, but those memories just kept nagging him…the lips…Sasori's lips on his…he didn't understand. When Sasori kissed him, it felt…weird. Very weird. But, not the bad kind of weird…more like…just weird… "I…I can't believe…you kissed me…"

"Wh-What?" Sasori's face reddened up once again.

Deidara flushed before struggling to come up with an excuse to his words.

This lesson…is going to be very…problematic…yeah…

Smooth, Deidara. Smooth.
Uh, the Akatsuki argument part was because I was expecting Hidan and Kakuzu to appear in the anime, and when they didn't come, I felt like…getting back at Hidan just because. I have no idea why. It's how my brain works.
I didn't get to check this over for any mistakes in spelling or plotline, so just tell me if something's confusing…I'm lazy right now and have to get ready for a stupid play…
Poor Konan. She has to put up with all of them practically every day. Except Zetsu. Zetsu just…watches as the others fight.

～Arrina